Dear Friends,

This month, I plan to briefly connect you with 3 institutions, all of them being my source of studies in the field of sustainable development, through MOOCs. First, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) https://www.unsdsn.org/

Sri Rabindranath Tagore, in his work “Sadhana” writes – ‘India chose her places of pilgrimage, wherever there was in nature some special grandeur at beauty, as that her mind could come out of its world of narrow necessities and realize its place in the Infinite’.

Sanatana Dharma has put a great emphasis on the sanctity of certain places and has recommended her followers to pursue pilgrimage to such holy places. Pilgrimage:

Twooath cum awareness programmes were  conucted in the Municipality viz. Agnitheertham (02^nd October), and Arichal Munai (04^th October). 

Mr. K. Veera Raghava Rao - Disctrict Collector of Ramanathapuram, Tehsil office staff, Municipal office staff, DBC team and HHIDS team (150 volunteers in total) participated in the programme conducted at Agnitheertham.

Sister Saraswathi interacting with the audience

Moringa Saplings Distribution for Nutrition and as a remedy for Anaemia

We have received 650 Moringa Saplings from Horticulture Department on 4 October 2019. Immediately through our volunteers we have arranged distribution of 200 saplings in Ramakrishnapuram.  The function was held at Ramakrishna Kudil.  Around 100 women attended the function.

Shri.Madhu, Social worker planting a sapling in the Taluk office

Greening Rameswaram Taluk Office

Green Rameswaram volunteers helped the Rameswaram Taluk office staff in cleaning their campus and planting 30 Saplings in the premises as a part of beautification. Taluk office staff participated in this exercise and enjoyed the plantation work.

Dhanushkodi-a rich ecological destination

Dhanushkodi,a deserted town on the Rameswaram Island or more popularly known as “Ghost Town” has played a significant role is shaping the overall Cultural Landscape of the island. Dhaushkodi,in the past was a flourishing township and a prominent place of pilgrimage; which rivaled Rameshwaram in size and population.

However, the cyclone, which struck the town 1964, destroyed the town in its entirety claiming over 2,000 lives. Post this, the town was declared unfit for habitation and was never re-built. One can see remnants of the pas in ruins a church, few temples, railways station, post and immigration office being partially covered with sand.

Hara Teertham with a well with cement concrete rings and beautiful steps which can be used for cleaning the Water body

Revival and Renovation of the Traditional Water body – Hara Teertham is completed and now everybody is waiting for the rain god to bless (North-East monsoon) so that the Teertham can be inaugurated in the month of November.

Teertha pooja in Agni Teertham and Kapi Teertham

Teertha Mitras (Friends of Water bodies), Shri.Nagarajan and Shri.Ganesan organized the Teertha pooja at Agni Teertham on October 13, 2019 - full moon day. Around 180 people including the pilgrims participated in the event. At Kapi Teertham around 20 people participated.

Mass Cleaning at Agni Teertham

On the occasion of Swacchhtha hi seva and Gandhi Jeyanthi, District Administration and Green Rameswaram organized a mass cleaning programme at Agni Teertham. Around 250 volunteers participated in the event on October 2, 2019. The entire event was spearheaded by Shri.Veera Raghava Rao IAS., District Collector, Ramanathapuram District.

Row of lamps lighted up for the Teertha pooja